The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-09-24
editorial 8riets.
BY REV. I. M. ATWOOD, D. D.
Canton. N. Y.

ors of the Chicago Daily Ne,cs, in an ad-
dress to the Alumni of Middlebury Col
lege puts this conundrum: "Why is if
that of all the learned professions, that of
journalism contains the fewest college
educated men in proportion to the whole
number employed? Why is it, that when
the legal profession is literally crammed
with starving pettifoggers, when physi-
clans of the various schools of medicine
are so thick that they jostle each other in
our streets; when clergymeD, too often un-
employed, are paid stingy pittances for
their labOrs, the co leges contribute every
year their full quota of bright, educated
young men to these professions and only
one once in four years to journalism"
Various guesses might be hazarded.
1t may be that the proprietors of too
many journals show the prejudices of
the late Horace Greeley about college
educated men. "Ot all horned CATTLE
said Mr.. Greeley, in the choice classicism
usual with him when excited, "the col
lege graduate is the most stupid and the
most dangerous around printing Office"
1t may be that man can more readily
get into journalism without college ed
ucat1on than into either of the learned
professions. 1t may be that "the field"
OF Journalism Is relatively much narrower
than in either of the Others Editing a
country newspaper can hardly be called
journalism, yet this is what five ont of six
OF the editors of the Republic are doing.
Finally, it may be suggested, that while at
least one-half of all the college graduates
could do respectfully in either of the
other professions, not more than one in
ten of them would make good editor.
A talent for journalism is rare, even
among "bright, educated young men,"
some years ago we enjoyed fora
son personal acquaintance with Prof. E.
5. Morse and shared with him member
! ship IN scientific association. He was
then vivacious, amusing, brilliant young
man, with strong tendency to extremes
in opinion and statement. We infer from
his late letter to the Christian Register
and his later remarks on the church at
the American Association for the Ad-
vancement Of Science, that he has not
changed much in twenty years. He is
still amusing and still extreme. The law
: OF paradox which appeared to be- a
youthful foible, seems to have become
the settled habit of his mind in ma
turity; we do not say of his mature mind,
for mind is never mature till it ceases
to be infamed with this juvenile passion.
We do not take Prof. Morse's dread
full indictment of the church at al seri-
ously. He may have meant it seriously
enough; but it is one of the accepted
Judgments OF the sane part of mankind,
that rant Is never to be taken seriously,
whether indulged by lassie of the Sal
walton Army or a laddie of the American
Association. 1t is waste of breath to
discuss the propositions of a ranter. They
go for what they are worth; there is not
the Smallest danger that the world will
pay coin for them.
Ahol I0bIlDuAOu u ceTIdlu ana tQhE
IT is merciful, are truths which it would
be salutary for all men to accept. The
one would save them from the ready COM
mission of sin: the other would save
them from cOwardice and despair when
they have sinned. All deliberate trans.
gressors expect to escape retribution in
some way, by some device As Burrs
was fain to warn The Deil,"-
But faith! he'll turn corner iiukin
And cheat YOU yet"
But there is no way of cheating the
devil; or to state the truth in terms less
pagan and poetical, there is no way of
escaping the retributions of God. They
are joined with the sin as effect with
cause. 1t Is tremendous fact: but it is
benedcent. To accept it without ques-
ton, and regulate ones conduct in full
recognition of it, is not indeed to be a
Christian, since the Christian rule of life
is higher, but it is to be wise and to
have laid the foundation of being good.
The mercifulness Of retri5ution is
not so PLAN. But it is true alike to
philosophy and experience, that it is bet
ter to enter into life manned than having
two hands aud two feet to be cast into
hell fire. Losses of comfort, property,
reputation, even of physical health and
life are nothing; the ouly serious loss is
loss of truth and goodness. This is hell
fire. Whatever keeps one out OF this, or is
designed and does tend to keep him out
of it is a great blessing though pain aud
sorrow accompany it,
This is our answer to such inquiries
rs President Butterfield makes, "Wf at
could Finney or Coan or Moody do in
revival with the doctrine OF probation
after death?" Preach the law OF newt
able retubution; preach the love OF God
IN the retribution. Show that men are
neither blessed nor cursed by the place
they are in or the discomtOlts they suffer,
but by the moral character they have.
Lift the whole subject of motives and in
dueements mp ont Of the mire it has
20 long been in; get at the heart OF the
matter by teaching that God wants and
will have real goodness. Is this too dis
tRnt and Intellectual? How do Won knoU9